Multi-purpose helmet assembly especially for use with a catheter

ABSTRACT

A helmet assembly having a helmet, a storage well and a connector assembly. The helmet has a pair of eye slots therein and a face and neck opening. The connector assembly is utilized for introducing the proper medical equipment, or the like, through the helmet to the wearer. By the proper sizing and mounting of the helmet assembly, the wearer is unable to disturb any of this equipment, even in the conscious or active state.

[ 1 Nov. 28, 1972 United States Patent Talley [54] MULTI-PURPOSE HELMET ASSEIVIBLY 3,026,524 3/1962 ESPECIALLY FOR USE WITH A 2,861,272 11/1958 Stuart et al. CATHETER 3,223,086 12/1965 Denton......................128/142 [72] Inventor: William H. Talley, Alamogordo, N. 1,090,742 3/1914 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: The United States of America as 685,812 1/1953 Great Britain.............l28/142 represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Pn'mary Examiner-William E. Kamm [22] Filed; A 23, 1970 AttorneyJacob N. Erlich and Harry A. Herbert [57 ABSTRACT A helmet assembly having a helmet, a storage well and 211 Appl. No.: 67,827

a connector assembm The helmet has a pair of eye Field of slots therein and a face and neck opening. The connector assembly is utilized for introducing the proper 25-8 179/156 2 2 348 medical equipment, or the like, through the helmet to the wearer. By the proper sizing and mounting of the helmet assembly, the wearer is unable to disturb any [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS of this equipment, even in the conscious or active state.

3,324,255 6/1967 Romba ......179/l56 3,387,606 6/1968 Crafts et al................l28/141 5Clains,9DrawingHgures PATENTED Nov 28 I972 SHEEI 4 6F 4 INVENTOR.

MULTI-PURPOSE HELMET ASSEMBLY ESPECIALLY FOR USE WITH A CATHETER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to helmets, and more particularly, to a helmet for use on small primates utilized as a research tool, and to afford protection for chronic indwelling catheters running from the primate s heart (or other areas of the circulatory system) to infusing pumps and associated hardware located outside the animals cage area.

In many instances, it is necessary to study the behavioral effects and loss of work efficiency as a result of self-administered drug abuses by the use of trained rhesus monkeys.

Furthermore, other studies in the areas of skin grafting or the response to audiometric techniques have been best performed on such sub-human primates and lower animals. In this research, however, numerous problems have been encountered with the use of chronic in-dwelling catheters or similar devices which require protection from access by primates, while in a conscious or active state.

A helmet has been found to be the best means for holding these catheters in place within such a primate. However, it is desirable that no adverse effects to the animal should result from the helmets continued use over extended periods of time. Further, this helmet should allow for the attachment of audio and optical devices along with related instrumentation for research involving use of primates. In studies with animals, the helmets heretofore in use have failed to produce the desirable results set forth hereinabove. The helmets of the prior art usually were of cumbersome construction, heavy and awkward in use, caused adverse effects to the animal wearers and failed to provide the proper protection to the catheters or similar devices embedded within the animal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention sets forth a multipurpose helmet assembly which overcomes the problems set forth hereinabove. The helmet assembly of this invention is made up of a helmet, a catheter storage well and a connector or catheter assembly and may be utilized on several species of primates generally in the weight range of 14 to 20 lbs. However, minor changes in construction by either reducing or increasing certain sizes can alter the basic configuration so as to fit a wide variety of subjects.

The helmet is formed from a pair of light-weight hemispheres made of any suitable material, such as plexiglass held together by any conventional securing means. These hemispheres are formed to the proper configuration by an assembly procedure which requires the utilization of a uniquely shaped template. The construction of this template calls for an opening to be formed therein which is substantially three-fourths circular, with the remainder being of a parabolic shape. A second template having a center hole tapped therein for mounting a compressed air hose fitting is utilized in conjunction with the first template. In the manufacturing procedure of this invention the plexiglass plate is positioned between the templates and heated to the required temperature. Thereafter the second template is connected to an air pressure line. Pressure is then applied to obtain the desired width for each of the plexiglass hemispheres. After cooling the plexiglass hemispheres are removed from the templates with the excess material cut away allowing for a flange portion. Face and neck openings are also formed to desired configurations.

A pair of such plexiglass hemispheres are joined together having the proper neck opening and face opening therein. A catheter storage well and catheter or connector assembly are mounted at the uppermost corner thereof. The openings within the helmet must allow ample room for mastication and storage of normal quantities of food in the animals food pouch.

A specially designed face opening is used in this invention, since a completely circular opening may under certain circumstances enable the animal to extend an entire hand between the helmet and the head, and thus gain access to the catheter, a procedure which is highly undesirable. Eye slots formed within the helmet of the assembly must be sufficiently large to enable direct vision by the animal and allow the animal partial access to the eyes; however, a pair of protruding flanges prevent the animal from extending the entire hand and wrist through the opening. Furthermore, numerous holes are drilled over the large areas on the helmet of this invention so as to lighten the weight of the assembly, ventilate, and enhance audition and enable limited access for grooming. It should be noted, however, that care should be taken to limit the size and location of these holes so as to prevent access of the critical areas surrounding the catheters or other devices requiring protection. The interior of the helmet is sanded thoroughly, so as to be completely smooth in order to prevent cutting, lesioning or abrasions from developing. A flange is bonded or attached to the edges of the neck opening in order to prevent lesions and abrasions from developing along the neck and shoulder area. A slight curvature of the neck opening is also necessary to prevent pinching of the skin area around the neck.

The catheters are inserted through the helmet by means of a connector or catheter assembly which is removably mounted on the helmet. The helmet assembly of this invention may fit a wide range of sizes and weights by utilizing a plurality of inserts or by modifying the size of neck and face openings.

It is an object of this invention to provide a helmet assembly for use on primates which protects catheters from access by the primates while in a conscious or active state.

It is another object of this invention to provide a helmet assembly for use on primates which allows for the attaching thereto of audio and optical devices along with related instruments for research involving the use of primates.

It is another object of this invention to provide a he]- met assembly for primates which is extremely lightweight, permits a maximum of animal movement and yet affords a maximum protection for instruments administered to the primate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a helmet assembly for primates which is economical to produce and which utilizes conventional, currently available components that lend themselves to standard mass-producing manufacturing techniques.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a pictorial view of the pair of templates utilized in forming the helmet of this invention and shown in conjunction with a sheet of plexiglass utilized for the helmet;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the templates in place and under pressure, while forming the helmet of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing a pair of hemispheres forming the helmet of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the template configuration for the helmet assembly of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational pictorial view of the he]- met of this invention in combination with the catheter storage well;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial of the helmet assembly of this invention in place on a primate;

FIG. 7 is a front pictorial view of the helmet of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom pictorial view of the helmet of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational pictorial view of the catheter storage well and catheter or connector assembly of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing which shows in detail the steps necessary in the construction of the helmet assembly 10 of this invention. The helmet 12 of this invention is made up of a pair of hemispheres of unique configuration and may be manufactured by a number of methods, one of which being the utilization of a specially designed template 14. This template 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, has a cut-out portion 16 in the center thereof, and this cutout portion 16 is made up of three distinct designs. A circular portion 18 makes up substantially three-quarters of the entire cut-out l6. Extending from the circular portion 18 is a parabolic section 20 and rejoining the parabolic section 20 to the circular portion 18 is an elongated section 22. The helmet 12 may be made of any suitable light-weight material, such as plexiglass.

The method shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a practical and simple operation requiring only the use of an oven capable of obtaining 180C; an air pressure unit with a regulator capable of delivering up to or lbs. pressure; two templates, one of which being the uniquely designed template l4, and a plurality of clamps for holding the templates and plexiglass in place during the construction operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet of suitably sized plexiglass 23, being for example 7 to 7% inches square, and three-sixteenths inch thick, is clamped between the uniquely shaped template l4 and a second template 24. The second template 24 has a center hole 26 therein for mounting a compressed air hose fitting 28.

FIG. 2 shows the plexiglass plate 23 clamped between the templates l4 and 24 and heated so that upon the application of a suitable amount of air pressure through center hole 26 the plexiglass will take the desired shape of one side of the helmet 12 of this invention. After one side has been formed, the templates 14 and 24 are turned over and in a similar manner utilized to produce the other side of the helmet 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, after the plexiglass has cooled, the excess material is cut away with a flange portion 30 being retained which enables the catheter storage well 32 (see FIG. 5) to be secured thereto and which allows for securing means to be placed therethrough for securely holding the pair of hemispheres together in order to form the entire helmet assembly 10 of this invention. Material is further cut away in a manner to be disclosed hereinbelow in order to form the face opening 34, the eye openings 36 and the neck opening 38.

As can be best seen in FIG. 5, once the excess material has been cut from the helmet 12, the helmet hemispheres are joined together by any suitable securing means, such as bolts 40. The flange portion 30 is now in position to receive the catheter storage well 32. In a manner which will be described hereinbelow the catheter or connector assembly 42 (shown in FIG. 9) can be removably secured to the catheter storage well 32 so that the proper catheter or other medical aid can be inserted through the helmet l2 and embedded within the animal utilizing this helmet assembly 10.

FIG. 6 shows the helmet assembly 10 with the con- 'nector assembly 42 in place and mounted on any suitable animal, such as the primate 43, used for medical purposes. The size of the helmet 12 of the helmet assembly 10 of this invention may be varied by either reducing or increasing the size of the templates used in its construction. Furthermore, inserts 44 (shown in FIG. 5) of any desired thickness and constructed form materials, such as rubber or leather, may be attached or bonded to the interior surface of the helmet 12 in order to further reduce the helmets over-all size. This adjustment, in addition to varying the size of the neck opening 38 and the face opening 34, enables a single unit of the present invention to accommodate a wide range of animal sizes.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the face opening 34 is made sufficiently large to allow for mastication and storage of nominal quantities of food in the animals food pouch, and the eye slots 36 are also sufficiently large to allow direct vision by the animal and permit it partial access to the eyes. A pair of protruding flanges 48 dividing the eye slots 36 from the face opening 34 are formed on the helmet 12 to prevent the animal from extending his entire hand and wrist through the openings. Furthermore, a plurality of holes 50 are drilled over the large areas of the helmet 12 in order to lighten its weight, ventilate, enhance audition and enable limited access for grooming of the animal. These holes 50 are not placed in an area proximate the catheter storage well 32 in order to prevent access to the catheter or other device by the animal. Furthermore, the interior of the helmet 12 is sanded to prevent cutting, lesioning or abrasions from developing.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawing, it is seen that a flange 52 made of any suitable material, such as sponge rubber, is bonded or attached to the edges of the neck opening 38 to prevent lesions and abrasions from developing around the neck and shoulder area of the animal. This is particularly critical when the animal is chronically restrained by attaching spring and tubing assemblies. Furthermore, the neck opening 38 is curved at its exterior portions 54 in order to prevent pinching of the animal around the neck area.

FIG. 9 shows the catheter storage well 32 in conjunction with the connector or catheter assembly 42. The

connector assembly 42 is made up of a nylon tubing 56 which is inserted through a conventional spring 58 for protection of the catheter 60 or other device which may be inserted therethrough. This spring 58 may be expanded over the nylon tubing 56, as shown in FIG. 9, in order to lighten the overall weight of the assembly and will still provide adequate protection from the animals chewing, twisting or kinking the tube. However, on aggressive or hyperactive animals, it may be necessary to leave the coils of the spring 58 intact. A pair of couplings 62 and 64 are utilized at both ends of the tubing 56 in order to act as connecting units. The spring 58 is fixedly secured to the couplings 62 and 64, respectively, by inserting the ends of the spring 58 through a small hole 65 on each coupling 62 and 64, respectively, and then bending the ends of the spring 58. A portion of one of the couplings 64 may be threaded as at 66 and therefore used in conjunction with appropriate hardware for mounting or attaching as required. A small hole 68 is inserted in coupling 62 and aligned with a small hole 70 in the catheter storage well 32 for the insertion of a bolt 71 therethrough which will serve to lock the connector or catheter assembly 42 into the storage well 32 of helmet 12. A larger bolt 72 having a small hole 74 drilled through the center thereof is twisted into position in the end of the tubing 56. This bolt 72 allows for the passage of a catheter 60 therethrough. The insertion of the locking bolt 71 will restrict the head of the bolt 72 from pulling out of the coupling 62 and thus prevent the tubing 56 from pulling or working out of the spring 58.

Still referring to FIG. 9, the'catheter storage well 32 is of a three-legged construction having any suitable connector, such as connector 76 integral therewith, for slidably mounting the coupling 62 of tube 56. The storage well 32 further has an opening 77 therethrough for the insertion of the catheter 60. The other two legs have holes 78 drilled therein for connection by any suitable securing means with the helmet 12 as best shown in FIG. 5. The catheter 60 which protrudes through the catheter storage well 32 is inserted through a catheter exit hole 79 in the helmet l2 and then into the appropriate area in the animal.

This helmet assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 6, can be mounted on any suitable animal and in position allows for the introduction of a catheter 60 or other device to the animal. A wide range of sizes and weights of animals may be accommodated by a single helmet assembly 10 of this invention by using inserts 44 and modifying the size of the neck and face openings 38 and 34, respectively. The use of inserts, however, is not usually necessary except in limited cases, depending upon the function, or use of the helmet, as well as individual morphology, stage of maturation and sex, which all contribute to variation in head size. The only other guideline in fitting the helmet assembly 10 to the animal is that the neck opening 38 should be lar e enough to extend two to three fingers between t e animal's neck and the neck opening along the side of the neck. When the animals neck is forced upward in the helmet there must be room to extend two to three fingers freely in the space between the bottom of the chin and the chin' section of the helmet 12. The ears may touch or slightly rub the sides of the helmet 12; however, the width must be sufficient to prevent chronic pressure against the ears or any other area of the head. The minimum width of the flanges 48 should be wide enough to allow the animal to open his mouth freely without pinching or rubbing the sides of the nose. It is this helmet assembly 10 of the instant invention which overcomes the problems encountered by previous helmets when utilized in conjunction with chronic in-dwelling catheters or similar devices during research with the animal while the animal is in a conscious or active state.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that this invention is also capable of a variety of alternate embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A helmet assembly for use as a research tool comprising a helmet, a storage well having an opening therethrough secured to said helmet and a tubing removably secured to said storage well and having its opening aligned with said storage well opening, said helmet having an opening therethrough aligned with said storage well opening, said helmet further having a pair of eye slots in the front thereof and a neck opening in the bottom thereof, means for protecting said tubing at least partially surrounding said tubing, a coupling element mounted on at least one end of said tubing for removably engaging a connector on said storage well, said tubing further having a stop means at said one end for preventing withdrawal of said tubing from said coupling element and said stop means having an aperture therethrough aligned with said opening in said tubing and said storage well, whereby upon placing said helmet assembly on a wearer, the wearer is prevented from gaining access to any equipment which may be introduced through said tubing to the wearer.

2. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for protecting said tubing is a coiled spring.

3. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling element and said connector each has a hole therein, said holes being aligned with one another and juxtaposed said stop means when said coupling element and said connector are attached together, whereby upon attachment of said coupling element to said connector a securing means can be inserted through said holes.

4. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein a catheter is inserted within said tubing and protrudes through said opening in said helmet for insertion within said wearer.

5. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein a soft material is secured to the edges of said neck open ing thereby preventing abrasions from developing around the neck and shoulder of said wearer. 

1. A helmet assembly for use as a research tool comprising a helmet, a storage well having an opening therethrough secured to said helmet and a tubing removably secured to said storage well and having its opening aligned with said storage well opening, said helmet having an opening therethrough aligned with said storage well opening, said helmet further having a pair of eye slots in the front thereof and a neck opening in the bottom thereof, means for protecting said tubing at least partially surrounding said tubing, a coupling element mounted on at least one end of said tubing for removably engaging a connector on said storage well, said tubing further having a stop means at said one end for preventing withdrawal of said tubing from said coupling element and said stop means having an aperture therethrough aligned with said opening in said tubing and said storage well, whereby upon placing said helmet assembly on a wearer, the wearer is prevented from gaining access to any equipment which may be introduced through said tubing to the wearer.
 2. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for protecting said tubing is a coiled spring.
 3. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling element and said coNnector each has a hole therein, said holes being aligned with one another and juxtaposed said stop means when said coupling element and said connector are attached together, whereby upon attachment of said coupling element to said connector a securing means can be inserted through said holes.
 4. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein a catheter is inserted within said tubing and protrudes through said opening in said helmet for insertion within said wearer.
 5. A helmet assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein a soft material is secured to the edges of said neck opening thereby preventing abrasions from developing around the neck and shoulder of said wearer. 